Ballerin bring Bridie McMenamin Shield back to Derry
Sinéad Faulkner’s first-half brace proved decisive as Ballerin withstood a late Naomh Eoin goal to lift the Bridie McMenamin Shield.
Two goals from Derry’s 2012 All-Ireland Intermediate medallist Sinéad Faulkner gave Ballerin a half-time lead of 2-7 to 1-2 and a buffer against the second half breeze in Dunsilly on Sunday. It was enough to see the Derry club win the Bridie McMenamin Shield that eluded them four years ago when they lost the final by 2-9 to 2-6 against Ruairí Óg Cushendall.
Faulkner’s experience and leadership were key factors in getting her team over the line. But the 2022 final against Cushendall probably stood to them as well. They were more composed than St John’s and their defence was solid throughout with a lot of ball in the second half turned over by their half-backs and midfielders.
Orla Mullan emerged with the Armagh City Hotel player of the match but it could easily have gone to Grace, Mikeela or Éabha Mullan or indeed Rhianna Doherty or Sinéad Faulkner for their serious work-rate on a day when St John’s neutered the considerable threat of Caoimhe Higgins whose scoring had much to do with the team reaching this final.
The accuracy of Higgins from frees remained. While St John’s young free-taker struggled with accuracy, Higgins was on the button with all but one of the chances she got.
She opened the scoring in the 3rd minute. But the girls from Corrigan Park hit back immediately with Eimhear Costello, Ellie Sweeney and Úna Simpson combining for the latter to find the net.
That score settled St John’s into the game and, despite playing into the stiff breeze, they were able to exert a lot of pressure on the Ballerin defence through the first quarter. There was a couple of goal chances necessitating good saves from Ursula Mullan before the Derry champions began to move the score-board at the other end.
St John’s led 1-1 to three Higgins frees after 15 minutes but Rhianna Doherty and Higgins posted two points from play and then Higgins landed a free, all inside 90 seconds. You sensed the tide was turning.
In the 23rd minute Faulkner broke a tackle to plant her shot high in the net. A minute later Éabha Mullan found Rhianna Doherty for her second point of the afternoon. Ellie Sweeney fired over a free in reply but, two minutes from the break, Faulkner broke to fire a low shot into the left corner.
Ballerin were now in control of their own destiny with a lead of eight points at the change of ends.
St John’s could narrow the gap over the third quarter. They tried their best but moves broke down around the Ballerin 45 metres line. Sweeney’s accuracy from frees improved and she posted five efforts to which Higgins responded with two of her own. With five minutes left the gap was five points.
Rhianna Doherty then drove forward for her third score and the Ballerin support got louder as they sensed victory was in sight. Despite a late goal for Belfast team when Niamh Hamill followed in to flick the sliotar home when it popped up off Ursula Mullan’s stick, the win was safe. No need for any panic on or off the pitch.
Derry club sides have appeared in 12 final over the two decades this competition has run. Up until Sunday, the Shield had only returned to the county on three occasions. Ballerin had suffered defeat in a final in 2022. Sunday’s result will soften that hurt.
Ballerin: U Mullan, E Fullerton, L O’Connell, B Mullan, O Mullan, Éabha Mullan, Clodagh Moore, G Mullan, M Mullan, E McAfee, R Doherty 0-3, Emily Mullan, Caitlin Moore, C Higgins 0-7, 6fs, S Faulkner 2-0.
Naomh Eoin: SJ McGuigan, C Morgan, S Lagan, H Holden, S McAleavey, H Mead, C Carleton, Á Dudley capt, C Hamill, E Sweeney 0-7fs, N Hamill 1-0, H McAllister, L Saunders, E Costello, Ú Simpson 1-0
Subs: G O’Reilly for H Holden (35), A Adams for L Saunders (48), S Bradley for Ú Simpson (56)
Referee: Ben Lock (Down)